Oklahoma's Trevor Knight (9) runs past Iowa State's Jeremiah George (52) during the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Iowa State University Cyclones (ISU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

NORMAN – Damien Williams zipped through a hole on the second half's second play, veered outside and made like Kenny King or Clyde Russell. A 69-yard touchdown run that gave OU the lead.

Later in the third quarter, the Iowa State interior again parted like the Red Sea, and Brennan Clay zipped 63 yards to a touchdown.

Finally, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Trevor Knight faked a handoff, dashed up the middle and scooted outside for a 56-yard TD run.

Everyone thought two things, other than harkening back to old wishbone days. The Sooners had found not just a quarterback, but an offense.

OU waxed Iowa State 48-10 Saturday at Owen Field to return hope to beleaguered Soonerville.

But Bob Stoops did us all a favor. He warned the masses to not get too excited.

“I don't ride the rollercoaster with everybody,” Stoops said.

Good advice.

There seems little doubt the Sooners should turn to Knight for season-ending road games at Kansas State and OSU, regardless of Blake Bell's health status.

With Knight, the Sooner offense at least had an identity. Shotgun option with occasional passes.

Knight rushed for 123 yards and Williams for 128, both on just 10 carries, and Clay would have joined them (86 yards) in triple digits had he gotten 10 carries (he had just seven).

So that's the way to go. Just don't get too optimistic that it will work.

We thought the OU offense had found itself after a 38-30 victory over Texas Tech. But no.

“That's what everyone thinks now, that everything's OK, right?” Stoops said. “It's never OK. We have got to go do it again next week. In the end, hopefully, it gives us some momentum, some spark. If we can perform like this, or close to it, it's going to give us a chance.”

That's really all the Sooners can ask at this point.

The OU offense again was sluggish with Bell, getting just one first down total in two first-quarter possessions.

Then Bell got banged up early second quarter, Knight relieved and the offense started looking alive.

Knight played solid. He ran the shotgun option superbly. His passing, while still not pristine, was better than he showed in seven quarters against Louisiana-Monroe and West Virginia.

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,...